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The Book of Phobias and Manias

A History of the World in 99 Obsessions

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The Book of Phobias and Manias

By: Kate Summerscale
Narrated by: Stephanie Racine
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About this listen

Ever been struck dumb when speaking in public? You might be suffering from glossophobia. Do your book-buying habits verge on bibliomania? Do you recoil in arachnophobic horror at the sight of a spider—or twitch with nomophobia when you misplace your mobile phone?

Our fears and compulsions often feel like part of our deepest selves—yet they're bound up in the currents of the world around us. This thrilling compendium of 99 phobias and manias, rare and familiar, delves into the obsessions that shape us all. Award-winning author Kate Summerscale takes us from the Middle Ages to the present day, using rich and riveting case studies to trace the links between the private and the public, the personal and the political.

©2022 Kate Summerscale (P)2022 Profile Books Ltd Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
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Very interesting listen, there were a lot of manias and phobias I never even knew existed. It was at times unsettling to read because of the different phobias and the stories associated with them, but overall a great listen.

Informative and interesting book

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